USMLE Forum Archives - USMLE Step 1 - Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
drspleen - 03-17-11 18:00
A 24-year-old female opera singer underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for a herniated disc at C5-C6. A week after surgery, she continues to have a hoarse, scratchy voice. Direct laryngoscopy reveals unilateral paralysis of a vocal cord. This nerve originates from which of the following structures?
* A. Pharyngeal arch 4
* B. Pharyngeal arch 5
* C. Pharyngeal arch 6
* D. Pharyngeal arch 2
* E. Pharyngeal arch 3
drspleen - 03-17-11 18:00
A 24-year-old female opera singer underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for a herniated disc at C5-C6. A week after surgery, she continues to have a hoarse, scratchy voice. Direct laryngoscopy reveals unilateral paralysis of a vocal cord. This nerve originates from which of the following structures?
* A. Pharyngeal arch 4
* B. Pharyngeal arch 5
* C. Pharyngeal arch 6
* D. Pharyngeal arch 2
* E. Pharyngeal arch 3
The correct answer and explanation will be available after you answer.
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#3
Re: Recurrent laryngeal nerve babbu5508 - 03-18-11 19:31 My answer is: c.
recurrent laryngeal nerve arises from pharyngeal arch 6 and its damage causes hoarseness fro paralysis of vocal cords..
#4
Re: Recurrent laryngeal nerve sudha2015 - 03-19-11 10:17 24-year-old female opera singer underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for a herniated disc at C5-C6. A week after surgery, she continues to have a hoarse, scratchy voice. Direct laryngoscopy reveals unilateral paralysis of a vocal cord. This nerve originates from which of the following structures
c
#5
Re: Recurrent laryngeal nerve
drspleen - 03-21-11 18:46 The patient most likely had an injury to her recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing a hoarse/scratchy voice secondary to unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is a recognized complication of cervical spine surgery (J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Feb;2(2):123-7) and usually presents with voice changes including hoarseness. In contrast, superior laryngeal nerve injury generally alters the speaking voice relatively little. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is derived from pharyngeal arch 6. The following are the other cranial nerves and their derivatives: Pharyngeal arch 1: Cranial nerves V2 and V3 Pharyngeal arch 3: Cranial arch IX Pharyngeal arch 4: Cranial nerve X (superior laryngeal branch) Pharyngeal arch 5: none Pharyngeal arch 6: Cranial nerve X (recurrent laryngeal branch).
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